Investigators said the shooting happened at about 9 p.m. at a city-owned garage at Water and Frederick streets, just a few blocks from the Inner Harbor.

"As (the detective) was going up the stairwell to retrieve some items from his personal vehicle, he encountered a male suspect who was armed with a small-caliber revolver," said police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld.

Bealefeld said the officer was shot in the thigh and also injured his shoulder in a fall while confronting the culprit.

Officials said the injuries were not life-threatening and that the officer was taken to Shock Trauma in stable condition.

"There's no indication that this was anything more than a random chance encounter," Bealefeld said.

The officer has been on the force for 13 years.

The police commissioner arrived at Shock Trauma directly from the viewing of Officer William Torbit Jr., who was fatally shot by friendly fire Jan. 9 during a disturbance outside a city nightclub. WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Kerry Cavanaugh spoke with Bealefeld, who arrived alone, switching from mourning a fellow officer to abruptly responding to help an officer in urgent need.

Detectives said they are looking at surveillance video to get a better idea of what happened. No description of a shooter has been released.

Authorities are still seeking the culprit in Tuesday's incident. Anyone with information is asked to call police.